ENGLAND-based US international Hallie Coon had six rides at the Millstreet international horse trials and recorded her first win in this country when landing the Coral Cove championship CCIYH2*-S for six and seven-years on one of two Irish Sport Horses among that sextet, her own Boleybawn Oliva.

One wouldn’t expect much grief in one of these educational classes and just two of the 34 starters failed to complete viz Jaksparo who, lying fifth, was withdrawn before cross-country by Britain’s Andrew Downes, and the Irish combination of Caitlin Woods and Greygrove Delight who were automatically eliminated following their show jumping round.

Lying joint-second on 32.3 penalties after the dressage phase judged by the ground jury of Germany’s Wiebke Hennig (C) and Ireland’s John Lyttle (E), Coon was left in front when the early leader on 31.1, Ireland’s Sam Watson and Ballybolger Goldman, dropped to 20th with the addition of 12 show jumping penalties. Single poles down proved costly for North of Ireland-based US international Gillian Beale King, who had been lying joint-second on Dorus Heldenlaan Z, and Ireland’s Steven Smith who dropped from fifth to 12th with You Neek (37.9).

While roughly half the field picked up a small number of time penalties on Sunday over the Paul Brady-designed cross-country course, only two combinations had a problem in jumping. The more significant of these was Ireland’s Ciara Kinsella who had been lying third before the final phase on 34.3 but dropped right down to the bottom of the leaderboard when Tykillen Shindig ducked out at the third element of fence 13, the Coole Corners.

The top six in the final standings all completed on their dressage scores with Coon commenting: “It was a super cross-country track, asking all the right questions”.

When asked about the Ronan Rothwell-bred Boleybawn Oliva (a 2018 bay by Jorado out of C-Jumps by Cicero Z van Paemal), who was first produced here by Leila Barker, the owner/rider stated: “What I love about this mare is her brain. She is always focused on her work and never says no.

“When we decided to aim for this class about three months ago, I knew she could win it; I’ve complete faith in her. We’ll try to fit in a couple of 3*-S over the summer and then think about a return to Le Lion.” Coon and Boleybawn Oliva finished fifth in the six-year-old class at the world championships for young event horses last October.

Two Irish riders finished second and third with six-year-olds on Sunday and, like Boleybawn Oliva, they were both mares. Ian Cassells filled the runner-up slot with Patrick Murphy’s ISH bay Rutland Flamenco (34.1) who, last time out, won a section of the EI110 at Ballindenisk (2). Danielle McCormack took third on the Belgian Warmblood Hildare Trust Me (34.5).